I just love this stuff in smoothies – will be buying more vanilla chai! I love it for its flavor, texture and protein boost, but of course I don’t think you need this stuff to be healthy. (It took me 3/4 of a year to go through this tub – very much worth it to me!)

Re: Karen — My MIL went through the same type of cancer a few years ago. It is very traumatic, but very beatable. She is doing very well right now. She’ll need your assistance to eat the proper foods while going through treatment. Good thing you are quite capable of doing that!

I’m so sorry. You share so much of Karen here, and she seems like such a lovely lady. Hang in there. Hugs and prayers.

Christmas is at our house this year for half of the family, but I still have to prepare for Christmas brunch elsewhere with T’s family – and then come home and cook and prepare for my parents coming over for Christmas dinner. Eeeee.
I need to just relax and enjoy my time (ha) at work today, because come 6pm tonight, I am going to be busy straight through til Christmas evening. Whew.

I *hate* those bugs (we call them ‘prehistoric bugs’, because, well, we’re weird)! They take over and embed themselves all in the mosquito netting that hangs from our gazebo. Every fall I have to pick them out with stick, before the netting goes into the garage for the winter. Yuck.

Love the pics of Karen from the party-so glad she had such a great time singing and could enjoy herself! I had to scroll down to read what her news was and just wanted to send some thoughts your way. This is the third piece of cancer news I’ve heard this week, and sitting here at my computer with tears in my eyes I’m realizing that whether it’s two of my closest friends or your MIL, my reaction is the same-sadness then anger each time I hear of cancer rearing its ugly head again. I feel helpless too, so I will do what I can and pray that the surgery goes well, that the cancer has not spread, that Karen will be healed and have a full recovery. Please keep us posted with any info that Karen is willing to share. She seems like a strong and amazing woman. You guys are lucky to have her and she to have you as well!
(And if anyone who reads this would lift up prayers and good thoughts for my friends Karen and Celeste I’d appreciate it too! )

I love the contrast colors between the red tablecloth and the green smoothie – I loved me some color wheel in middle school!

I was catching up on old comments and read the post about Karen’s news. I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer last month (not the same as Karen’s, of course) and even though it is the “best” kind of cancer to have in terms of cure rate and prognosis, it is still scary as anything to hear that kind diagnosis. In a way, I can empathize with you all. I had a similar situation where they wouldn’t know what kind of cancer/if it had spread until the surgery. Luckily it only spread to one lymph node outside of the thyroid and I’m having follow up radiation next month to make sure the cancer cells are gone. I’m thinking about you and your family and Karen and sending good, healing thoughts your way! It was actually cancer that reminded me how lucky I am to have health, love, family and the ability to treat my body with respect and good veggies

We’ve had 2 cancer diagnoses during the holidays over the past couple of years (husband and mother). In some ways that makes the holidays more meaningful. Enjoy being together and savor some precious family time. From experience I can say that excellent nutrition is going to be critical in Karen’s recovery and follow up treatment. You and Matt will be a gift and a blessing to her every time you help her give her body what it needs. You might have to get creative some days but if anyone can do it, it’s you guys.

Oh my goodness – kill that bug! Please! It’s freaking me out and I’m not even in the same room as you! One time last year, a spider suddenly appeared on my laptop keyboard and crawled INTO my laptop. Let’s just say that for the next hour or two, I was absolutely terrified to type. But eventually his disgustingly little creepy body appeared and I smushed him!

I’m sorry for your mother in law but will say a prayer for her! Looks like you all had a great time last night at the party. Packing to go home is always a chore I like because the result is well worth it!

Oh gosh, I’m really struggling with the decision of whether to buy a vitamix or not, and posts like these make it harder! Really a bit out of my budget, but does it really make sense to spend still 400 on a less good blender, and not just go the whole hog and get the best one that will last?!

Regarding the vega products–does the body absorb those proteins as well as whey or soy? I love Amazing Meal protein powders which have all kinds of goodness in them, like vega, but this nutritionist I know said that the body doesn’t absorb rice or hemp or other “alternative” protein powders as well as whey or soy, hence you’re not getting the grams on the label. Now, she’s been out of school longer than you, so maybe her suspicions are based on OLD research?!? Could this be “hippy-punching?” or is it a legitimate concern? Thanks for any info you might have!